The Common Families Of History.

As a surname researcher I have ran into a lot of families that may have only one notation in history, now dose this make this family any less important then the more known family?, “Of course not”, as far as History goes we’er all tied together. History is not all about the famous people but of the more common people who make up this great nation. It is the sacrifices of the common man that got the (upper class ) where they are. We as researchers can not leave out a family just because it is less known then the other. If one starts leaving out the common man there wouldn’t be much color in our nation history and it would leave a lot of holes unfilled in our history. The families on this page are the lesser known families but important in the overall makeup of our nations history.

Note. If you happen to find a surname on this list but it wasn’t the family you were look for, keep in mind I have only put down one or two families of same surname. I have information on more families with the same surname. To find out if I have your family you can write to me, my address can be found in my profile.

Note. This information comes from the Library of Congress.

Abram Van Buskirk.

A BILL
FEBRUARY 13, 1857.
For the relief of the heirs of Abram Van Buskirk.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Treasury be, and he is hereby, authorized to pay to the heirs of Abram Van Buskirk, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of twenty thousand dollars, as a full indemnification for losses sustained by him during the revolution.

Thomas Hazard.

A BILL
FEBRUARY 13, 1857.
For the relief of the children of Thomas Hazard, a captain in the war of the Revolution.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Treasury be, and he is hereby, authorized and required to pay or cause to be paid to the children of Thomas Hazard, out of any moneys in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of six thousand dollars, as a full remuneration for the services and indemnification for the losses of the said Thomas Hazard during the war of the Revolution.

William Rich.

A BILL
FEBRUARY 13, 1857.
For the relief of William Rich.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Treasury be, and he is hereby, directed to pay, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, to William Rich, late United States secretary of legation in Mexico, eight hundred and thirty dollars, it being the difference between the compensation allowed to a secretary of legation and that to a charge d’affaires, for the period during which he acted in the latter capacity.

Jacob Dodson.

A BILL
JANUARY 9, 1855.
For the relief of Jacob Dodson.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the proper accounting officers of the government be, and they are hereby, authorized and directed to allow Jacob Dodson, a colored man, who, on the seventh day of July, one thousand eight hundred and forty-six, at the American Forks, in California, volunteered as a private, for during the war, in Captain Richard Owen’s company of the California battalion, and who was discharged therefrom on the fourteenth April, one thousand eight hundred and forty-seven, at Los Angelos, in California, all the pay and allowances to which he would be entitled, under the existing laws for such service, in the same manner as if he had been legally enlisted in, and honorably discharged from, the service of the United States, deducting therefrom the sum of two hundred and eighty-one dollars, paid to him by Colonel J. C. Fremont for his services as a member of the exploring expedition, within the period named above; the amount necessary therefor to be paid out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

Bixby E. Dodson.

A BILL
MARCH 4, 1872.
For the relief of Bixby E. Dodson, of Hardin County, Iowa.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Treasury be, and is hereby, authorized and directed to pay to Bixby E. Dodson, of Hardin County, Iowa, the sum of two thousand four hundred and eighteen dollars and seventy-seven cents, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the amount due him for arrears of invalid pension for twenty-five years, two months and ten days, prior to the eighteenth day of June, anno Domini eighteen hundred and seventy.

Edwin Turnock.

Edwin Turnock., was from Allen county, of Indiana, was a private in the 127th., regiment Indiana infantry company I, was later the late captain of the Twelfth Indiana Cavalry, to be second lieutenant in the Seventeenth Regiment United States Infantry, October 16, 1867. In 1873 he resigned from the army.

John Fink.

AN ACT
APRIL 25, 1872.
Granting a pension to John Fink.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Interior be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to place on the pension-roll, subject to the provisions and limitations of the pension laws, the name of John Fink, late a private in Company G. of the First Regiment Potomac Rome Brigade, Maryland Volunteers, to take effect from the passage of this act.
Passed the House of Representatives April 24, 1872.

John Houser.

AN ACT.
JANUARY 19, 1857.
For the relief of John Houser.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Interior be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to place the name of John Houser, of Sulli5 van county, State of New York, upon the invalid pension list, at the rate of eight dollars per month, commencing on the first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, and continuing during his natural life.
Passed the House of Representatives, January 19, 1857.

Nathaniel C. Culver.

A BILL
FEBRUARY 14, 1870.
For the relief of Nathaniel C. Culver.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the proper accounting officers of the treasury and Pay Department be, and they are hereby authorized and directed to pay to Nathaniel C. Culver all arrears of pay, bounty or other allowances due from the United States to his adopted son, Frank Culver, late a private of Company A, Sixteenth Regiment of Cavalry New York Volunteers, the same in all respects as if the said Frank Culver had been the natural son of the said Nathaniel C. Culver.

Sylvanus Culver.

A BILL.
MARCH 29, 1854.
For the relief of Sylvanus Culver.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in congress assembled, That a land warrant for one hundred acres shall be issued to Sylvanus Culver, the only surviving heir of John Pearson, deceased, in lieu of a land warrant for one hundred acres, issued on the nineteenth day of April, eighteen hundred arid six, to Samuel Pearson, in trust for himself and the other heirs of John Pearson, deceased, who was a private in the New York continental line, and which warrant has been lost or destroyed.

Anna B. Snider.

AN ACT
FEBRUARY 28, 1870.
Granting a pension to Anna B. Snider.

Be it enacted by Senate and House of Representatives of theUnited Sates of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Interior be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to place on the pension roll, subject to the provisions and limitations of the pension laws, the name of Anna B. Snider, mother of Henry Snider, late a private in Company I, Tenth Ohio Cavalry, at the rate of eight dollars per month from and after the passage of this act.
Passed the House of Representatives February 25, 1870.

Ludwick Rowe.

A BILL
JANUARY 9, 1838.
For the relief of John and Samuel Rowe, heirs and legal representatives of Ludwick Rowe, deceased.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of representatives of the United States of America in congress assembled, That the Secretary of War be, and he •is hereby, directed to issue duplicate warrant number four hundred and four, for one hundred acres of land, issued the fourth of April, eighteen hundred and eight, in the names of John Rowe and Samuel Rowe, legal heirs and representatives of Ludwick Rowe, who was a private in the Pennsylvania line in the Revolution; the original warrant having been lost.

Henry Keefer.

A BILL
JANUARY 14, 1836.
For the relief of Henry Keefer.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Commissioner of Pensions be directed to place the name of Henry Keefer upon the list of invalid pensioners, at the rate of eight dollars per month, commencing on the first of January, eighteen hundred and thirty-six.

Mary F. Prindle.

A BILL
MAY 2, 1870.
For the relief of Mary F. Prindle.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of’ Representatives of the United States of America in congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Interior be, and lie is hereby, authorized and directed, to pay to Mary F. Prindle, widow of Jerome V. Prindle, late a private in Company H, of the First Regiment of Vermont Volunteers, from the third day of November, eighteen hundred and sixty-one, the date of her husband’s death, to the tenth day of November, eighteen hundred and sixty-eight, the date of commencement of her present pension.

Maria S. Per Lee.

A BILL.
FEBRUARY 12, 1872.
Granting a pension to Maria S. Per Lee, widow of a soldier of the
war of eighteen hundred and twelve.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Commissioner of Pensions be, and he is hereby, directed to place, on the pension-list of pensioners of the United States, the name of Maria S. Per Lee, widow of Abraham Per Lee, deceased, late first lieutenant of the Fifteenth Regiment of the United States Infantry, and an invalid pensioner of the United States of the war of eighteen hundred and twelve, at the rate of seventeen dollars per month, commencing on the fourteenth day of February, eighteen hundred and sixty-three.

Benjamin Huffman.

AN ACT.
JANUARY 6, 1824.
Appropriating a certain sum of money to Benjamin Huffman, of the state of Indiana.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Treasury be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to pay to Benjamin Huffman the sum of five hundred dollars, to enable him to regain his son, Peter Huffman, who was taken a captive by hostile Indians, during the late war: provided, The said Benjamin Huffman shall previously give bond, with sufficient security, to be approved of by the Secretary of the Treasury, conditioned upon the said Huffman’s rendering to the proper Accounting Officers of the Treasury Department, correct accounts of his expenditure, of the whole or any part of the said sum of money, for the sole purpose of regaining the possession of his son aforesaid; and that the said Huffman shall pay any balance that may remain in his hands, after the expenditure provided for as aforesaid, into the Treasury of the United States.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the aforesaid sum shall be paid out of any money in the Treasury, not otherwise appropriated.
January 5, 1824.

Ross Winans.

A BILL.
AUGUST 8, 1848.
For the relief of Ross Winans.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Commissioner of Patents be, and he is hereby, directed to grant a new patent to Ross Winans, his executors and administrators, of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, for the term of seven years, from and after the date of its issue, for his combination of the outside diminished bearing of axles, with the flanched wheels of: car and other vehicles adapted to running on railroads, described in certain letters patent issued to him, and bearing date the twentieth day of July, eighteen hundred and thirty-one, the same to be granted under the same provisions and restrictions as are now provided for original letters patent, except so far as the existing laws prohibit and invalidate the grant of letters patent for inventions which have been before patented, or used for more than two years before the date of appli1tion for letters patent: provided, That such extension shall ensure to the use and benefit of the said Ross Winans, his executors and administrators, and to no other person whomsoever, except that a bona fide assignee of the invention, by virtue of any assignment from the patentee heretofore made and recorded, shall have the benefit of this act upon just and reasonable terms, according to his interest therein. And if the said Winans, his executors and administrators, cannot agree with such assignee upon the terms of such benefit to the assignee, it shall be ascertained and determined by the circuit court of the United States for the district in which such assignee resides, to be . Decreed upon a bill filed for that purpose by the said assignee: And. provided, further, That no assignee shall have the benefit of this act unless he shall, within ninety days from its passage, agree with the said Winans. his executors or administrators, as to the consideration upon which he is to have it, or, within the named period, file his bill in the circuit court aforesaid, in order that the amount to be paid therefor, and the terms of such payment, may be decreed in conformity with the intent and meaning of this act.

Elizabeth Calkins.

A BILL.
JULY 13, 1846.
For the relief of Elizabeth Calkins, the widow of Silas Winans.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of The United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of War be, and he is hereby, authorized and Required to place the name of Elizabeth Calkins on the revolutionary pension roll, under the act of seventh July, eighteen hundred and thirty-eight, for two years’ service of her said hus7 band, to commence the first January, eighteen hundred and
forty-five.

John Champe.

A BILL.
JANUARY 9, 1871k
To recognize the services, and for the benefit of the heirs, of Sergeant Major John Champe.

Whereas the revolutionary services of Sergeant Major John Champe have never been suitably acknowledged by Congress: Therefore:

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That there be, and is hereby, granted to the heirs of said Sergeant Major John Champe a township of land, to be selected from the public lands of the United States, not within any railroad grant or reservation, nor within any school reservation, by John L. Champe, of Franklin County, Ohio, and for which, when so selected, a patent shall be issued to the heirs of said Sergeant Major John Champe, and delivered to the said John L. Champe, for and on behalf of said heirs: Provided, That said township of land need not be selected in one entire body, but may be selected in separate sections, aggregating a township of land, if by the said John L. Champe such separate or several selections and entries shall be deemed best and most advisable.

Margaret H. Judd.

A BILL.
MARCH 25, 1872.
Granting a pension to Margaret H. Judd, of Wilmington, Delaware.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Interior be, and he hereby is, authorized and directed to place the name of Margaret H. Judd, of Wilmington, Delaware, the aunt and adopted mother of the late Brevet Lieutenant Colonel William Judd Fetterman, Twenty-seventh Infantry, United States Army, upon the pension-roll at the rate of twenty five dollars per month, from December twenty-first, eighteen hundred and sixty-six, to continue as long as she remains sole and unmarried.

John B. Rose.

A BILL.
MARCH 2, 1872.
Granting a pension to John B. Rose, of Indiana.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Interior be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to place on the pension-roll, subject to the provisions and limitations of the pension laws, the name of John B. Rose, of Indiana, a lieutenant in the Fifteenth regiment of United States Infantry, in the war of eighteen hundred and twelve with Great Britain.

Benjamin L. Brittin.

A BILL.
MARCH 25, 1872.
For the relief of Benjamin L. Brittin.

Whereas nine hundred and fifty-two bales of cotton, the property of Benjamin L. Brittin, of the State of Arkansas, were seized by agents of the Government of the United States at Camden, in said State, on or about the first day of December, anno Domini eighteen hundred and sixty-five, on the mistaken supposition that said cotton was or had been the property of the so-called confederate government, and transported to New Orleans, in the State of Louisiana; and Whereas the United States detained said cotton until the eleventh day of April, eighteen hundred and sixty-six, and then delivered to said Brittin, in lieu thereof, cotton worth one hundred and seventy thousand dollars less than the cotton so seized, and, by such detention, also subjected said Brittin to an expense of fifty-six thousand three hundred and forty-two dollars and twenty cents: Therefore.

Be it enacted by (lie Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Treasury be, and he hereby is, authorized and directed to pay to Benjamin L. Brittin, of the State of Arkansas, the sum of two hundred and twenty-six thousand three hundred and forty-two dollars and thirty-four cents, in full for nine hundred and fifty-two bales of cotton seized at Camden, in the State of Arkansas, in December, eighteen hundred and sixty-five; and for such payment said sum is hereby appropriated out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated.

Mary A. McFarland.

A BILL.
MARCH 25, 1872.
For the relief of Mrs. Mary A. McFarland, widow of Peter
McFarland, and the minor children of the same.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Interior be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to place the name of Mary Ann McFarland, widow of Peter McFarland, late captain Company C., First Regiment Kansas Infantry Volunteers, on the pension roll of the United States, Topeka agency, at the rate to which she would have been entitled for herself and the minor children of said Peter McFarland had her claim been allowed under the pension law of July twenty-fifth, eighteen hundred and sixty-six, subject to the provisions of the pension laws, said pension to commence from the sixth day of October, anno Domini eighteen hundred and seventy.

J. and C. M. Dailey.

A BILL.
MARCH 26, 1872.
For the relief of J. and C. M. Dailey.

Be it enacted by the Senate and Rouse of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Treasury be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to pay Messrs. J. and C. M. Dailey the sum of one thousand two hundred and fifty dollars in full for food furnished the Sioux Indians in the year eighteen hundred and sixty-two, upon the application and request of Mahlon Wilkinson, an Indian agent, and that the sum be taken from any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated.

Samuel Davis.

A BILL.
MARCH 26, 1872.
Granting. a pension of fifty dollars per month to Samuel Davis, of
New Trenton, Indiana.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Interior be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to place on the pension-roll, subject to the provisions and limitations of the pension laws, the name of Samuel Davis, of New Trenton, Indiana, and to pay him a pension of fifty dollars per month from and after the passage of this act.

Samuel Billings.

A BILL
JUNE 15, 1842.
For the relief of Samuel Billings, owner of the fishing schooner Lurana.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the collector of the customs for the district of Portsmouth, in the State of New Hampshire, is hereby authorized and directed to pay to Samuel Billings, owner of the schooner Lurana, belonging to the third district, burden sixty-six and eighty ninety-fifths tons, two hundred and thirty-four dollars, being the sum to which he is justly entitled as a bounty thereon for having been employed in the cod fisheries during the season of eighteen hundred and thirty-eight, to be distributed according to law.

Henry Richardson.

A BILL
DECEMBER, 22, 1837.
For the relief of the representatives of Henry Richardson, deceased.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of 1merica in Congress assembled, That the sum of two hundred and thirty-three dollars and eighty cents be, and the same is hereby, directed to be paid to the legal representatives of Henry Richardson, deceased, out of any money in the rr1easuI.v not otherwise appropriated, being the proportion due to them for wages and prize money, in virtue of the act entitled “An act respecting the late officers and crew of the sloop of war Wasp,” approved the twentieth da3y of April, one thousand eight hundred and sixteen, and which money shall be paid and distributed according to the provisions o the said act.

James Witherell.

A BILL.
MARCH 3, 1836.
For the relief of James Witherell.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in congress assembled, That the proper accounting officers of the Treasury do settle the account of James Witherell, and allow him five years’ full pay as an ensign of infantry of the revolutionary army, in the Massachusetts line on continental establishment, with such interest thereon, as would have been payable to the said James Witherell if a certificate had been given him for the amount of the said commutation, and the same had by him been subscribed to the funded debt of the United States, under the act of seventeen hundred and ninety, and that the said sum of money and interest be paid out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated.

Benjamin H. Mackall.

A BILL.
MARCH 3, 1836.
For the relief of Benjamin H. Mackall.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Treasury pay to the legal representatives of Benjamin H. Mackall, formerly of Calvert county, Maryland, two hundred and ten dollars, the amount claimed by his heirs for a certain house or out-house destroyed by the British about the 1st of August, 1814, which house was in the military occupation of the United States at the time of its destruction, and destroyed in consequence of such occupation.

Daniel Warner.

A BILL.
MARCH 3, 1836.
For the relief of the legal representatives of Daniel Warner, deceased.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United Stales of America in Congress assembled, That the patent heretofore issued upon military warrant, four thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight, to wit: on the twenty-ninth day of November, eighteen hundred and seventeen, in the name of Daniel Warner, late a private in Captain Peters’s company of the twenty-seventh regiment of infantry, for a certain tract of land containing one hundred and sixty acres, being the southeast quarter of section number thirty, of township six north, of range two east, in the tract appropriated for military bounties in the Territory of Illinois, be, and the same is hereby, revoked.

SEC. 2 And be it further enacted, That the Secretary of the Treasury be, and he is hereby, directed to cause a patent to be issued to the legal representatives of the said Daniel Warner, deceased, for the quarter section of land in the first section of this act described.

The Oldham Families.

A while back a lady wrote me asking help on her family and I happen to notice her last name, which was ( Oldham ), how interesting I thought and began looking into this name and found many interesting people. Many of the names were of the Civil War but there were a few from other wars as while. When any one writes me asking for help I always look at their last name, that’s how some of the families get on my site just like in this case.

Many names are harder to work with then others, like in this case, as I thought this name was a little uncommon but soon found that was not so. I found there were Oldham roads, Oldham Counties and Creeks and so on, but in the end I found more the enough information to make this page. I hope those of the Oldham’s families who find this page will enjoy reading about their families.

1. James Oldham, of the city of Baltimore, Maryland praying for a pension on account of his services as a soldier of the American army in the war of the Revolution.
Note; found no record that he got one?

2. Anna Oldham, of Maryland widow of Captain John Oldham, was as asking for a Revolutionary Pension, her paper were withdrawn.

3. Susan Dougherty, heir at law of Moses Oldham, deceased, the value of a wagon and team, the property of the said Moses Oldham, which was impressed into the service of the United States during the Revolutionary war.
Note; found no record that she got one?

4. John P. Oldham, of Louisville, Kentucky, 1836, to be postmaster of said state.
He resigned in 1837.

5. Montcalm Oldham, sr., of Virginia, 1870, praying the removal of his political disabilities.

6. W. E. Oldham or William S. Oldham, was from Texas and a member of the Congress of the Confederate States of America.

7. Thompson B. Oldham, Kentucky, to be collector of internal revenue for the ninth collection district of Kentucky, 1866.

8. A petition of 1858, for the heirs of Isaac Oldham, who was a soldier in the war of the revolution, praying for bounty land, also in 1860, a petition of Edward T. Oldham, administrator of Isaac Oldham and Winefred Oldham, praying for a pension.

9. The petition of 1869, of Leroy Oldham, praying the removal of political disabilities.

Note. I know there wasn’t much information on the above names, however there could a lead on where to look for more information on your ancestor, or you may have already learned something about your ancestor you did not know.

The Civil War.

John Oldham.

No. 18. Report of Major James W. Hewitt, Second Kentucky Infantry.
CAMP MURFREESBOROUGH, TENN., December 9, 1862.

SIR: I have the honor to report, in pursuance of your orders, I formed my regiment on the left of the Ninth Kentucky, opposite the enemy's camp near Hartsville, a portion of General Morgan's cavalry being at the same time on my left. When the order came for me to advance, of the ground was such that I deemed it advisable to deploy my regiment, and therefore gave the order to deploy. In this was we drove the enemy from their first camp, and continued to drive them until they surrendered.

The officers, without an exception, behaved in the most gallant style. They were continually in advance of their men, urging them forward, and where all behaved so well it would be impossible to particularize. Each seemed to vie with the other in deeds of gallantry. The whole command, I am pleased to say, behaved in a most unexceptionable manner.

I cannot conclude my report without referring to Color-Sergt. John Oldham, whose conduct and carriage during the whole engagement elicited the encomiums of both officers and men.

John Oldham, Sergeant.

HEADQUARTERS FIRST BRIGADE, Camp near Murfreesborough, Tenn., December 11, 1862.

In pursuance of the order of General Bragg, I proceeded with my command on the 5th instant to Baird's Mills, and remained two days, making, as directed, reconnaissance toward Nashville. General Morgan designated the Second and Ninth Kentucky and Cobb's battery as the troops he desired to accompany him upon the Hartsville expedition. They were detached under the command of Colonel Hunt. I in close herewith his report of the battle of Hartsville and the reports of his subordinate officers. I wish to call attention to the honorable mention that is made in Major [James W.] Hewitt's and Colonel Hunt's report of the gallant conduct of Sergeant Oldham, of the Second Kentucky Regiment, with the hope that the proper steps may be taken to procure for him the proper reward for his conduct. Sergeant Oldham was the color-bearer of the Second Kentucky Regiment at the battle of Donelson, and acted with great gallantry upon that occasion. He is a suitable man for a lieutenancy, being well qualified as well as truly brave.

D. W. Oldham.

HDQRS. FIRST DIVISION, DEPT. OF EAST TENNESSEE,
September 12, 1862.

D. W. Oldham, left at Pine Knot wounded, is not a members of the C. S. Army and cannot be received as prisoners of war.

Martin Oldham .

The following case was disposed of: State vs. Odell, Maples, Weddell, and Leadbetter, murder (killing Martin Oldham), change of venue to Audrain County.

T. R. Oldham .

No. 152. Reports of Lieutenant Colonel P. A. Work, First Texas Infantry, of operations August 29-30.
SEPTEMBER 9, 1862.

The following report of the participation of the First Texas Regiment in the engagement of August 29 is respectfully submitted:

Having laid in line of battle near the enemy during most of the day of Friday, August 29, the regiment after sunset was ordered forward to the attack. Having advanced some 250 yards to an open field, the enemy opened upon us with grape and canister. Advancing steadily, the regiment approached a wood, in or near which the enemy's battery was stationed, and when within 100 or 150 yards the artillery firing ceased. After having advanced a short distance into the above-mentioned timber, and when some two companies of the left wing, having passed through the point of timber, emerged into the open field beyond, the regiment became engaged with the Seventy-ninth New York Regiment (as stated by prisoners), and after one volley fired by this regiment and some little desultory firing the cry of friends was raised. During the confusion consequent upon this false cry the regiment with which we were engaged took occasion to make its escape in a disorganized state. It was by this time too dark to distinguish friend from foe at a distance of 20 paces.

Here we had 4 killed and 15 wounded, a list of whom, giving mane, rank, where wounded, and character of wound, accompanies this report, marked A.* Some 30 or 40 paces to our front the ground was thickly strewn with the dear and wounded of the enemy.

From this point this regiment continued to advance to the front, and soon met with the Eighteenth Georgia and Fourth Texas Regiments, of this brigade. The brigade, having been collected, moved still to the front, crossing a small stream by the flank, upon a ridge beyond which this regiment rested for the night, in its position in the brigade, within some 150 or 200 yards of the enemy.

As an incident of the battle I would mention that while I was seeking the position assigned me for the night, marching by the left flank, to wit, with my left resting upon the turnpike road, the second Mississippi Regiment, Colonel Stone commanding, which was moving in the same direction, having recrossed the Creek, but in advance and to the left, became entangled with the thirty-third New York Regiment, when Colonel Stone sent me a message requesting me to move up to this relief, which I did. Upon consultation we again recrossed the creek, moved to rejoin the third Brigade. I would mention also that the fourth texas and Eighteenth Georgia, who were informed of my moving to the relief of Colonel Stone, pressed closely on after me to offer any assistance that might be required. The regiment kept well together, evincing unusual eagerness to engage the enemy, and advancing with a yell, which was taken up by the other regiments of the brigade and continued until the very woods resounded.
Respectfully submitted.
P. A. WORK,

Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding First Texas Regiment.

P. S. - Two privates of Company H., T. R. Oldham and J. M. Streinsipher - were killed during the day of the 29th while lying down at their place in ranks in front of the enemy by a discharge of grape-shot which remained in the tin case unexploded.

William Felland Oldham.

Numbers 1. Report of Brigadier General Clinton B. Fisk, U. S. Army, commanding District of North Missouri.

SAINT JOSEPH, MO., June 12, 1864.

A detachment of militia were attacked by a band of guerrillas yesterday at Ridgeley, in Platte County, and a desperate little fight ensued. Captain Hoberson [Overson], late of the rebel army, now recruiting under Colonel Calhoun Thornton, C. S. Army, and leader of the gang, was killed outright, and his lieutenant, William Felland [Oldham], son of a planter in this country, was wounded and taken prisoner. He was shot to-day. His confession will be valuable to us in securing scores of the black-hearted villains in the country. We captured several fine horses and revolvers. We lost 1 brave boy; only 2 others were slightly wounded. the brigands were the same party that committed the nursers at Arnoldsville. Eleven of them were on the muster-rolls of a militia company in this county, and they carried a Federal musket all winter. I am pushing after the villains day and night, and my limited force of reliable troops are nearly worn out. I can get help from General Curtis, who has kindly tendered it to-day, but I dislike to have the Kansas troops come over here if it can possibly be avoided. I shall go to Platte Cunty again to-morrow if able to ride. We captured 2 more of our escaped prisoners to-day, McConly and Briggs; the altter was killed.
CLINTON B. FISK,
Brigadier-General.

Feelan Oldham.

JUNE 13-16, 1864.- Scout from Fort Leavenworth, Kans., to Weston, Mo.
Report of Major Robert H. Hunt, Fifteenth Kansas Cavalry.
FORT LEAVENWORTH, KANS., June 16, 1864.

SIR: Pursuant to Special Orders, Numbers 42, dated headquarters District of North Kansas, June 13, 1864, I have the honor to state that, as directed, I proceeded to Platte County, via Leavenworth City. When near Farley, distant 7 miles from Leavenworth, I was informed that the guerrillas had started toward Platte City, in which direction I went. I had proceeded only about half a mile when I was informed by a resident that some 8 men, supposed to be bushwhackers, had returned to Farley. I immediately countermarched and directed the advance under Lieutenant Gunther, of the Sixteenth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry, to double-quick into town and charge upon the party alluded to. At the same time a party under command of Mr. Losee, of Leavenworth City, charged into town from the east, thereby setting off retreat; but to the disappointment of the command the supposed enemy turned out to be imaginary friends, they being a party of militia from Platte City. While at Farley I learned that the guerrillas and the town militia fought desperately, the citizens having saved their lives and property by the aid of "rifle whisky."

Believing the place impregnable, we directed our course toward Platte City, keeping the main road for a few miles, when we took to the brush, hoping to find the trail. Here Mr. Loose, taking 4 men as a guard and with the militia, started for Platte City. Our energetic David Causort, the scout, soon found where the enemy had passed. We followed as speedily as possible, and soon crossed the Platte, where we had to swim. We trailed them some miles farther, but night coming on we lost all trace of them. We went into Platte City, hoping to receive some tangible information, but were disappointed. We concluded to put up for the night, and, to the credit of Major clark, who is in command of the country, and the citizens, we were provided with a good supper. The major seems to be a very clever officer, and acknowledge that a change of policy is necessary in order to suppress bushwhacking. Some of the citizens seemed to be very glad to see us over there, although there were some remarks made about the Kansas radicals (for which the major apologized), which exasperated some of the men. In the morning early we started toward a little town called Smithville, a distance of 14 miles from Platte City, where we took breakfast; had some horse-shoeing done; talked with the people; glad to see us. They are all Union people, every one. Major Clark accompanied us to the place, from which, I believe, he returned. We proceeded to Ridgeley, some 6 miles, were we learned Captain Fitzgerald was guerrilla-bound. We found the captain and the citizens under arms; glad to see us. There are some true Union men there. Lieutenant Pierce and 16 men of Captain Poe's company opportunely arrived there about an hour and a half before the guerrillas. Captain Overson and Lieutenant Feelan [Oldham] made the raid, they not knowing of the aforesaid arrival. Some of the men fought well, but 7 of them ran away, 3 of whom did not return.

There were at lest 493, Oldham’s in the Civil War, to many to put here. So I will list each state with the number of Oldham’s in each of them. If you had a ancestor in the war and would like to see if I have any information on him you can write to me,you can find my address in my profile.

Here are two examples on the kind of information you may receive.

Example 1.

OLDHAM, JAMES, Rank PVT, Company B., Unit 7th., IL., US INF., Residence NEOGA, CUMBERLAND CO, IL., Age 20, Height 6', Hair LIGHT, Eyes GREY, Complexion LIGHT, Marital Status SINGLE, Occupation FARMER, Nativity LITCHFIELD, GRAYSON CO, KY., Joined When JUL 25, 1861 Joined Where MOUND CITY, IL., for 3, years. Muster In JUL 25, 1861, Muster In Where MOUND CITY, IL., Remarks DIED FORT HOLT KY., 8 NOV 1861.

Example 2.

Charles H. Oldham, of the 69th., E. M. M., rank Corporal, company A. Enlisted April 30, 1864, at Lewis county Mo., went into service on 5, October 1864, relieved from service on December 1, 1864, after only 64, days of service.

The numbers of Oldham's listed for each State.

1. Alabama-15.
2. Arkansas-8.
3. California-1.
4. Confederate Troops-7.
5. Connecticut-1.
6. Georgia-5.
7. Iowa-8.
8. Illinois-17.
9. Indiana-32.
10. Kansas-1.
11. Kentucky-71.
12. Louisiana-3.
13. Massachusetts-13.
14. Maryland-5.
15. Maine-2.
16. Michigan-1.
17. Minnesota-1.
18. Missouri-41.
19. Mississippi-31.
20. North Carolina-38.
21. New Jersey-6.
22. New York-8.
23. Ohio-41.
24. Pennsylvania-18.
25. South Carolina-1.
26. Tennessee-36.
27. U. S. Regular Army-5.
28. Colored Regiment-30.
29. Virginia-8.
30. Veteran Reserves-11.

United States Signal Corps. Civil War.

I have done a lot of different regiment of the army, but here is one I have done very little on, it is the Signal Corps. This was a very important assignment as it was one of the life lines to all the regiments of the army. The assignment was also dangers as the enemy knew how important communications between commanders were, so any time the enemy had chance to destroy a signal station they would. Both sides knew how important it was to have communications it was always a cat ad mouse game, and depending which side you were on you could be the cat or the mouse.

Note. As there is so much information on this Corps, I will list the information as I find it, if your looking for a ancestor you may want to do a name search. You do this by opening your (Edt.) look for ( Find on this page) put in your name and it will find it, this can be done on all my pages at this site.

Note. Most of these men will have additional information, if you find a ancestor or a name your looking into, and would like to see if there is any additional on the name, you can find out by writing to me, my address can be found in my profile. All add information will be military only.

Bermuda Hundred, Va.
Butler's signal tower.

A BILL.
MARCH 12, 1862.
To provide for the organization of a signal corps, to serve during the present war.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby, authorized to appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, for service during the present war, so many signal officers, with the rank, pay, and allowances of captains or lieutenants of cavalry, and detail so many enlisted men, with the rank and pay of sergeants of cavalry, as lie may deem necessary: Provided, That the number of captains shall not exceed three for each military department of the United States; the number of first lieutenants shall not exceed one for each division of the army in the service of the United States; the number of second lieutenants shall not exceed two for each brigade of the army; and the number of sergeants shall not exceed one for each signal officer who may be appointed: And provided, farther, That each officer so appointed shall, before receiving his commission, be examined and approved by a military board to be convened for the purpose.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the officers and men of the signal corps shall serve in any military department or with any forces to which they may be ordered.

Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That the officers and men of the signal corps, or those who may be temporarily serving in the corps, may be mounted upon horses, the property of the United States; and in this ease the officers shall not be entitled to, and shall not receive, commutation for forage.

Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That the President may assign to duty, or may appoint as signal officers, such officers of the army of the United States as he may elect; and these officers, while so serving, shall have the rank, pay, and allowances of signal officers of the grade to which they may be respectively so appointed or assigned.

Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That the President shall be authorized to appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, one chief signal officer, with the temporary rank and pay and allowances of a________ of cavalry.

AN ACT.
FEBRUARY 6, 1867.
To authorize the payment of prize money to certain officers and enlisted men of the signal corps of the army.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the proper accounting officers of the Treasury Department be, and they are hereby, authorized and directed to pay to the officers and enlisted men of the signal corps of the army who were assigned to and performed duty on the fleet under command of Admiral D. 0. Farragut, while the said fleet was engaged in the action in Mobile bay, on the fifth day of August, anno Domini eighteen hundred and sixty-four, from any money not otherwise appropriated, such sum or sums as prize money, to each of them, respectively, as will be equal to what has been allowed in distribution to officers or sailors of the navy of corresponding rank, the same as if their names had been, in any case, borne on the ship’s books.
Passed the House of Representatives February 5, 1867.

To be captains by brevet.

1. Brevet First Lieutenant John Q. Adams, second lieutenant in the First Regiment United States Cavalry, for gallant and meritorious services in the Signal Corps, at the capture of Fort McAllister, and Savannah, Georgia, and during the war, to date from August 17, 1867.

2. Brevet First Lieutenant Aaron B. Jerome, second lieutenant in the Eighth Regiment United States Cavalry, for gallant and meritorious services in the Signal Corps during the war, to date from June 18, 1867.

3. Brevet First Lieutenant David L. Craft, second lieutenant in the Sixth Regiment United States Infantry, for faithful and meritorious services in the Signal Corps during the war, to date from August 24, 1867.

4. Second Lieutenant Ocran H. Howard, of the Fifth Regiment United States Artillery, for gallant and meritorious services in the Signal Corps, in the cavalry campaign from Winchester to Petersburg, and in the battles of Dinwiddie Court-House and Appomattox Court-House, Virginia, to date from September 3, 1867.

5. Second Lieutenant John Q. Adams, of the First Regiment United States Cavalry, for gallant and meritorious services in the Signal Corps at the battle of Alatoona, Ga., to date from August 17, 1867.

6. Second Lieutenant David L. Craft, of the Sixth Regiment United States Infantry, for gallantry in maintaining his position under great exposure on the Appomattox signal tower during the siege of Petersburg, Va., in the late war, while his station was for some time deliberately cannonaded by rebel batteries, to date from August 24, 1867.

7. Second Lieutenant Asa T. Abbott, of the Twenty-eighth Regiment United States Infantry, for faithful and meritorious services in the Signal Corps during the war, to date from March 7, 1867.

8. Brevet Captain William W. Clemens, first lieutenant in the Thirty-fifth Regiment United States Infantry, for meritorious services in the Signal Corps during the war, to date from March 2, 1867.

9. Brevet Captain Lemuel B. Norton, second lieutenant in the Thirtieth Regiment United States Infantry, for meritorious services in the Signal Corps during the war, especially while chief signal officer of the Army of the Potomac, Department of Virginia and North Carolina, and Department of the Susquehanna, to date from March 2, 1867.

10. Brevet Captain Ocran H. Howard, second lieutenant in the Fifth Regiment United States Artillery, for meritorious services in the Signal Corps during the war, at the battle of Port Royal Ferry, S. C., and while chief signal officer of the Department and Army of the Tennessee, Middle Military Division, and Military Division of the Gulf, to date from September 3, 1867.

11. Brevet Major Samuel Bachtell late captain of the Signal Corps, for gallant and meritorious services during the war, to date from March 13, 1865.

12. Brevet Major Henry R. Clum, late captain of the Signal Corps, for faithful and meritorious services during the war, to date from March 13, 1865

13. Brevet Major S. M. Eaton, late captain of the Signal Corps, for gallant and meritorious services during the war, to date from March 26, 1865.

To be majors by brevet.

14. Brevet Major Henry S. Taft, late captain of the Signal Corps, for gallant and meritorious services during the war, to date from March 13, 1865.

15. E. J. Meeker, late captain of the Signal Corps, for faithful and meritorious services during the war, to date from March 13, 1865.

16. Paul Babcock, jr., late captain of the Signal Corps, for faithful and meritorious services during the war, to date from March 13, 1865.

17. James S. Hall, late captain of the Signal Corps, for gallant and meritorious services at the battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, to date from March 13, 1865.

18. E. H. Russell, late captain of the Signal Corps, for faithful and meritorious services during the war, to date from March 13, 1865.

19. Brevet Captain Amos M. Thayer, late first lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for gallant and meritorious services during the operations resulting in the fall of Richmond, Virginia, and the surrender of the insurgent army under General Robert E. Lee, to date from April 9, 1865.

20. Brevet Captain J. P. Sampson, late first lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for gallant and meritorious services during the war, to date from March 13, 1865.

21. Brevet Captain J. L. Hollopeter, late first lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for gallant and meritorious services during the war, to date from March 13, 1865.

22. Brevet Captain A. B. Capron, late first lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for faithful and meritorious services during the war, to date from March 13, 1865.

23. Brevet Captain Charles F. Cross, late first lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for gallant and meritorious services during the war, to date from March 13, 1865.

24. Brevet Captain Paul Brodie, late first lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for faithful and meritorious services during the war, to date from March 13, 1865.
25. Brevet Captain William H. Sherry, late first lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for gallant and meritorious services during the campaign through Georgia and the Carolinas, to date from March 13, 1865.

26. Brevet Captain E. A. Denicke, late first lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for gallant and meritorious services during the war, to date from March 13, 1865.

27. Brevet Captain N. H. Camp, late first lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for gallant and meritorious services at the battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, to date from March 13, 1865.

28. Brevet Captain John E. Holland, late first lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for faithful and meritorious services during the war, to date from March 13, 1865.

To be captains by brevet.

29. William H. Sherfy, late first lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for gallant and meritorious services at the battle before Atlanta, Ga., to date from March 13, 1865.

30. E. A. Denicke, late first lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for gallant and meritorious services during the operations against Mobile, Ala., to date from March 13, 1865.

31. N. H. Camp, late first lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for gallant and meritorious services at the battles of South Mountain and Autietam, Md., to date from March 13, 1865.

32. John E. Holland, late first, lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for gallant and meritorious services during the campaign of the Army of the Potomac, commencing with the crossing of the Rapidan May 4, 1864, and ending with the assault on the enemy's position in front of Petersburg, Va., July 30, 1864, to date from March 13, 1865.

33. William F. Warren, late first lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for gallant and meritorious services during the war, to date from March 13, 1865.

34. Theodore C. Vidal, late first lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for gallant and meritorious services before Fort Wagner and in the batteries on Morris Island, S. C., to date from March 13, 1865.

35. S. B. Partridge, late first lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for gallant trod meritorious services during the war, to date from March 13, 1865.

36. Joseph B. Knox, late first lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for faithful and meritorious services during the war, to date from March 13, 1865.

37. Townsend L. Hatfield, late first lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for gallant and meritorious services before Fort Wagner and in the batteries on Morris Island, S. C., to date from March 13, 1865.

38. William H. Hill, late first lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for gallant and meritorious services during the war, to date from March 13, 1865.

39. George A. Fisher, late first lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for faithful and meritorious services during the war, to date from March 13, 1865.

40. Wilson Bruyn, late first lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for gallant and meritorious services before Fort Wagner and in the batteries on Morris Island, S. C., to date from March 13, 1865.

41. William S. Andrews, late first lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for faithful and meritorious services during the war, to date from March 13, 1865.

42. Thomas S. Seabury, late first lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for faithful and meritorious services during the war, to date from March 13, 1865.

43. Thomas P. Rushby, late first lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for faithful and meritorious services during the war, to date from March 13, 1865.

44. Charles C. T. Keith, late first lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for gallant and meritorious services daring the war, to date from March 13, 1865.

45. Brevet First Lieutenant Julius M. Swain, late second lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for gallant and meritorious services during the war, to date from March 13, 1865.

46. Brevet First Lieutenant Edgar Ketchum, late second lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for gallant and meritorious services during the war, to date from March 13, 1865.

47. Brevet First Lieutenant Oscar B. Ireland, late second lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for faithful and meritorious services during the war, to date from March 13, 1865.

48. Brevet First Lieutenant J. L. Hallett, late second lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for faithful and meritorious services during the war, to date from March 13, 1865.

49. Brevet First Lieutenant Charles Herzog, late second lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for faithful and meritorious services during the war, to date from March 13, 1865.

50. Brevet First Lieutenant Henry R. Flook, late second lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for faithful and meritorious services during the war, to date from March 13, 1865.

51. Brevet First Lieutenant James H. Connelly, late second lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for gallant and meritorious services during the war, to date from March 13, 1865.
52. Brevet First Lieutenant E. A. Briggs, late second lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for faithful and meritorious services during the war, to date from March 13, 1865.

53. Brevet First Lieutenant Frederick J. Amsden, late second lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for gallant and meritorious services during the war, to date from March 13, 1865.

54. Brevet First Lieutenant Edward L. Halsted, late second lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for gallant and meritorious services during the war, to date from March 13, 1865.

55. Brevet First Lieutenant Frederick E. Beardslee, late second lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for faithful and meritorious services during the war, to date from March 13, 1865.

56. Brevet First Lieutenant William A. Pigman, late second lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for faithful and meritorious services during war, to date from March 13, 1865.

To be first lieutenants by brevet.

57. Julius M. Swain, late second lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for gallant and meritorious services during the operation against Richmond, Virginia, to date from March 13, 1865.

58. Edgar Ketchum, late second lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for gallant and meritorious services at the capture of Fort Fisher, N. C., to date from March 13, 1865.

59. Oscar B. Ireland, late second lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for gallant and meritorious services during the operations against Richmond, Va., to date from March 13, 1865.

60. J. L. Hallett, late second lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for gallant and meritorious services during the operations against Port Hudson, La., to date from March 13, 1865.

61. Henry R. Flook, late second lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for gallant and meritorious services in action at Adairsville, Georgia, to date from March 13, 1865.

62. James H. Connelly, late second lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for gallant and meritorious services at the battle of Alatoona, Georgia, to date from March 13, 1865.

63. Frederick J. Amsden, late second lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for gallantly maintaining his position under great exposure, on James River Signal Tower while his station was for some time deliberately cannonaded by rebel batteries, to date from March 13, 1865

64. Edward L. Halsted, late second lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for gallant and meritorious services at the battle of Winchester, Va., to date from March 13, 1865.

65. Frederick E. Beardslee, late second lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for gallant and meritorious serviced at the capture of Fort Fisher, N. C., to date from March 13, 1865.

66. William M. Pigman, late second lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for gallant and meritorious services at the battle of Sabine Cross-Roads, La., to date from March 13, 1865.

67. James B. Duff, late second lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for gallant and meritorious services during the campaign commencing with the crossing of the Rapidan and ending with the assault on the enemy's position in front of Petersburg, Va., to date from March 13, 1865.

68. George F. Young, late second lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for faithful and meritorious services during the war, to date from March 13, 1865.

69. Charles Weihl, late second lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for faithful and meritorious services during the war, to date from March 13, 1865.

70. Frank N. Wicker, late second lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for gallant and meritorious services during the war, to date from March 13, 1865.

71. Samuel N. Rogers, late second lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for faithful and meritorious services during the war, to date from March 13, 1865.

72. Preston Carpenter, late second lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for faithful and meritorious services during the war, to date from March 13, 1865.

73. John C. Abbott, late second lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for gallant and meritorious services during the war, to date from March 13, 1865.

February 14, 1865.
To be captain.

74. First Lieutenant Edmund H. Russell, Signal Corps, United States, to date from February 14, 1865.

To be second lieutenants.

75. Sergeant Alonzo V. Richards, of the Signal Corps, United States Army, to date from February 14, 1865.

March 4, 1872.
Ninth Regiment of Cavalry.

76. Sergt. David J. Gibbon, of the Signal Corps, United States Army, to be second lieutenant March 4, 1872.

Confederate States of America.

77. William Norris, to be major in the Signal Corps

78. John Bellinger, to be second lieutenants in the Signal Corps

79. F. Stringfellow, of Virginia, to be second lieutenant, Signal Corps, in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States of America.

80. Major, William Norris, of Virginia, to be Chief Signal Corps, to rank October 8, 1862.

81. Signal officer, with the rank of captain, M. L. Randolph, of Virginia, to be assigned to duty by Maj. W. Norris, to rank October 8, 1862.

Signal officers, with the rank of first lieutenant.

82. R. J. Brownfield, of South Carolina, to be assigned to duty by Maj. W. Norris, to rank December 19, 1862.

83. S. M. Routh, of Louisiana, to be assigned to duty by Maj. W. Norris, to rank October 8, 1862.

Signal officers, with the rank of second lieutenant.

83. James L. Crittenden, of Texas, to be assigned to duty by Maj. W. Norris, to rank December 6, 1862.

84. George E. Tabb, of Virginia, to be assigned to duty by Maj. W. Norris, to rank December 16, 1862.

85. John Bellinger, of Georgia, to be assigned to duty by Maj. W. Norris, to rank December 29, 1862.

Union Army.

85. William Quinton, late second lieutenant of the Signal Corps, to be first lieutenant in the Thirty-third Regiment United States Infantry, June 12, 1867

86. Aaron B. Jerome, late second lieutenant of the Signal Corps, to be second lieutenant in the Eighth Regiment United States Cavalry, June 18, 1867.

87. A petition of N. Daniels, late captain 3d Wisconsin infantry, praying compensation for horse, equipments, and other property lost by him while on service in the signal corps of the United States army.

To be majors by brevet.

88. Captain J. C. Paine, of the Signal Corps, United States Army, for gallant and meritorious services in the battles of the late campaign from the Rapidan to Petersburg, to date from August 1, 1864.

To be assistant adjutant-generals with the rank of major.

89. Brevet Captain Clifford Stickney, first lieutenant Signal Corps United States Volunteers, August 7, 1865.

90. The petition of L. B. Norton, captain signal corps, United States army, praying for relief.

Appointments.

91. Second Lieutenant Otho E. Michaelis, of the Signal Corps, to be second lieutenant, November 24, 1863.

To be captains by brevet.

92. First Lieutenant Jehu L. Hollopeter, of the Signal Corps United States Volunteers, for faithful services in the field, to date from March 13, 1865.

To be majors by brevet.

93. Brevet Captain R. P. Strong, first lieutenant Signal Corps United States Volunteers, for faithful and meritorious services, to date from March 13, 1865.

To be captains by brevet.

94. First Lieutenant R. P. Strong, of the Signal Corps, United States Volunteers, for faithful and meritorious services, to date from March 13, 1865.

To be first lieutenants by brevet.

95. Second Lieutenant Edward H. Wardwell, of the Signal Corps, for faithful and meritorious services, to date from March 13, 1865.

Signal Corps.

96. Major Benjamin F. Fisher to be chief signal officer with the rank of colonel, December 3, 1864

To be lieutenant-colonels by brevet.

97. Major B. F. Fisher, Signal Corps, United States Army, for faithful and meritorious services in the field, August 1, 1864.

To be captain by brevet.

98. First Lieutenant W. S. Stryker, of the Signal Corps United States Army, for faithful and meritorious services, December 5, 1864.

99. First Lieutenant George A. Clarke, of the Signal Corps United States Army, for faithful and meritorious service, December 5, 1864.

100. First Lieutenant A. B. Capron, of the Signal Corps United States Army, for faithful and meritorious service, December 5, 1864.

War Department,
Washington, April 8, 1867.

101. Asa T. Abbott, late lieutenant of the Signal Corps, to be second lieutenant in the Twenty-eighth Regiment United States Infantry, March 7, 1867.

War Department,
Washington, April 19, 1866.
Sixth Regiment of Infantry.

102. Charles D. Lyon, late sergeant United States Signal Corps, to be second lieutenant, April 13, 1866

103. The petition of Alonzo V. Richards, praying for pay as second lieutenant of the signal corps of the army during the war of the rebellion.

To be majors by brevet.

104. Brevet Captain Paul Brodie, late first lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for gallant and meritorious services during the war, to date from March 13, 1865.

War Department,
Washington, March 6, 1867.

105. Thomas H. Rich, late sergeant in the Signal Corps, to be second lieutenant in the Thirty-second Regiment United States Infantry, March 6, 1867.

To be colonels by brevet.

106. Colonel Albert J. Meyer, Chief Signal Officer United States Army, for gallant and meritorious services in the battle of Malvern Hill, Va., to date from July 2, 1862.

To be brigadier-generals by brevet.

107. Colonel Albert J. Myer, Chief Signal Officer United States Army, for distinguished services in organizing, instructing, and commanding the Signal Corps of the Army, and for its especial service on October 5, 1864, the day on which "the post and garrison at Alatoona, Ga., and a most valuable depository of provisions there," attacked by the rebel army, were saved by troops brought up by signals just in time to defend it, the messages being sent over the heads of the enemy, and when communication in any other way was impossible, to date from March 13, 1867.

108. Colonel Albert J. Meyer, Chief Signal Officer United States Army, for gallant and meritorious services in the battle of Hanover Court-House, Va., to date from May 27, 1862.

To be captains by brevet.

109. First Lieutenant Henry W. Howgate, of the Signal Corps, for gallant and meritorious services at the battle of Chickamauga, Tenn., to date from March 13, 1865.
To be majors by brevet.

110. Captain Lemuel B. Norton, of the Signal Corps, for gallant and meritorious services at the battle of Gettysburg, Pa., to date from March 13, 1865.

111. Brevet Captain Henry W. Howgate, first lieutenant of the Signal Corps, for gallant and meritorious services in the Atlanta campaign, to date from March 13, 1865.

To be lieutenant-colonels by brevet.

112. Brevet Major Ocran H. Howard, of the Signal Corps, for gallant and meritorious services at the battle of Five Forks, Va., to date from March 13, 1865.

113. Brevet Major Lemuel B. Norton, late captain of the Signal Corps, for faithful and meritorious services in the campaign against Richmond, Va., to date from March 13, 1865.

War Department,
Washington, February 27th 1867.

114. Captain Lemuel B. Norton, of the Signal Corps, to be second lieutenant in the Thirtieth Regiment United States Infantry, July 28, 1866.

To be first lieutenants by brevet.

115. Second Lieutenant Ephraim A. Briggs, of the Signal Corps, for faithful and meritorious services, to date from March 13, 1865.

To be brigadier-generals by brevet.

116. Colonel Benjamin F. Fisher Chief Signal Officer, for faithful and meritorious services during the war, to date from Starch 13, 1865.

HEADQUARTERS U. S. FORCES EAST OF MOBILE BAY,
Blakely, Ala, April 17, 1865.

The officers of the signal corps attached to my headquarters deserve special mention for their zeal and industry; they were always at their post, night and day, and did valuable service outside of their appropriate duties.

First Lieutenant W. F. Warren, Signal Corps, U. S. Army.

First Lieutenant R. P. Strong, Signal Corps, U. S. Army.

First Lieutenant J. C. Kinney, acting, Signal Corps, U. S. Army.

Second Lieutenant E. P. Adams, Signal Corps, U. S. Army.

SPECIAL ORDERS,
WAR DEPT., ADJT. GENERAL'S OFFICE,

Numbers 288.
Washington, September 1, 1864.

1. Captain H. R. Clum, Signal Corps, U. S. Army, will proceed without delay to headquarters Department of Virginia and North Carolina and relieve Captain L. B. Norton, Signal Corps, U. S. Army, in his duties as chief signal officer of that department.

2. Captain L. B. Norton, Signal Corps, U. S. Army, on being relieved from duty in the Department of Virginia and North Carolina, will proceed without delay to headquarters Department of the Susquehanna and assume charge of the signal detachment of that department.

3. First Lieutenant Paul Brodie, Signal Corps, U. S. Army, will report in person without delay for duty to the chief signal officer Department of Virginia and North Carolina.

4. The following officers of the Signal Corps, U. S. Army, are hereby relieved from duty in the Department of Virginia and North Carolina and will proceed without delay to headquarters Middle Military Division and report in person to Major-General Sheridan, commanding, for assignment to duty: First Lieutenant Wilson Bruyn, First Lieutenant Charles F. Cross, Second Lieutenant O. B. Ireland.

5. Second Lieutenant Francis K. McCloskey, Signal Corps, U. S. Army, is hereby relieved from duty with the Army of the Potomac and will, at the expiration of his leave of absence, report in person for duty to the chief signal officer Department of the Susquehanna.

GENERAL ORDERS, OFFICE OF THE SIGNAL OFFICER, Numbers 17.
WAR DEPT., ADJT. GENERAL'S OFFICE, Numbers 73.
Washington, February 14, 1865.

1. First Lieutenant William S. Stryker, Signal Corps, U. S. Army, is hereby relieved from duty in the Army of the Potomac, and will report in person without delay to the commanding general Department of Pennsylvania for duty, to relieve First Lieutenant Amos T. Thayer, Signal Corps, U. S. Army, in his duties as chief signal officer of the that department. Lieutenant Stryker will be accompanied by his flagman, First-Class Private Joseph A. Sedam, Signal Corps, U. S. Army. The quartermaster's department will furnish the necessary transportation.

2. First Lieutenant Amos M. Thayer, Signal Corps, U. S. Army, on being relieved by Lieutenant Stryker, will proceed without delay to headquarters Army of the Potomac, and report in person to Captain Charles L. Davis, chief signal officer of that army, for assignment to duty.

3. Second Lieutenant Charles Herzog, Signal Corps, U. S. Army, is hereby relieved from duty in the Department of Washington, and will proceed without delay to headquarters Army of the Potomac, and report in person to Captain Charles L. Davis, chief signal officer of that army, for assignment to duty.

Washington, November 15, 1863.
In compliance with the instructions of the Secretary of War, Major W. J. L. Nicodemus, Signal Corps, U. S. Army, will assume charge of the Bureau of the Signal Corps.

SPECIAL ORDERS, WAR DEPT., ADJT. GENERAL'S OFFICE, Numbers 145.
Washington, March 25, 1865.

1. Captain Joseph H. Spencer, Signal Corps, U. S. Army, upon being relieved at the office of the signal officer, Washington, D. C., by Captain L. B. Norton, Signal Corps, U. S. Army, will report to Major-General Thomas, commanding the Department of the Cumberland, to assume charge of the signal detachment connected with that department.

2. Lieutenant Asa T. Abbott, Signal Corps, U. S. Army, is hereby relieved from duty in the Department of Washington, and will report in person to Major-General Thomas, commanding the Department of the Cumberland, for assignment to duty.

Update August 4, 2010.

I got a E. Mail today from a Walt Mathers, who saw this page and informed me about a site called, ( Signal Corps Association 1860-1865 ), http://www.civilwarsignals.org/ , I took time to look it over and I’m glad I did. This site is great for those of you who are looking for information on the Signal Corps or for a ancestor. A lot of the names posted on this page can be found at this new site. This site has a lot of rosters and photo’s and a lot more. By using both sites you will be able to gather a lot of great information.
I would like to thank Mr. Walt Mathers, for telling us about this great site, for with out his help a lot of great information may had been missed.

Horace B. Franklin- Prisoner Of War.

Horace B. Franklin, enlisted for the Civil War in Allen County Indiana, after his discharge went to live in St. Louis Missouri, where if I have the right man married Margaret Michoux in 1868.

St. Louis, Missouri, October 25. 1868.

H. B. FRANKLIN, sworn and examined.
By Mr. PILE:

I reside in St. Louis, Missouri. I was in the Twelfth regiment Indiana volunteers, Company K, first brigade, first division, fifteenth army corps, General Logan commanding the corps, under General Sherman, and General Osterhaus division commander. My colonel commanded the brigade as often as any of them. I was captured on the 22d of July, and the day that McPherson was killed, in front of Atlanta. 1864. It was about 4 o’clock in the afternoon when I was captured. About eighteen hundred of us were captured; we were fighting Hood at the time, and he made a charge on us. After I was captured we were double-quick from the breastworks to Atlanta; it was about three-fourths of a mile. I had at the time I was captured I was then sergeant a knapsack, gun, and cartridge box. The way we came to get captured was, they got in on the right flanked us on the right, the Seventy-first Ohio giving way, and they took one of our batteries and got the range on our works. After I was captured, as I said before, they double quick us to Atlanta, and we were drawn up in line before General Rood’s headquarters, and counted and names taken. Before this they had taken my knapsack, gun, and cartridge box.

We were divided off into detachments, and there was a cavalry guard put over us, and we wore sent from there to East Point, six miles west of Atlanta, I think it is; I understood it was when we were captured. We got into the stockade about 10 o’clock that night, after marching six miles through the dust; and in the morning we expected to get rations, but were disappointed, and did not get any. We had two majors captured with us one a major on McPherson’s staff, I don’t recollect his name, and the other a major in the One Hundredth Indiana and they persuaded the rebel officers to issue some rations, and they issued us one pint of corn meal. We had nothing to cook it with, but we looked around and found a frying pan, and we borrowed that, and took water and made a mash out of this meal, and that was a day’s rations. The next morning they issued us rations composed of a piece of bacon about an inch square, a pint of corn meal, and three hard-tack. At the end of three days we were marched to Macon, and there took a train to Andersonville.

It took us two days, I think, to get to Macon, and when we got there they rushed us into stock cars that had just been filled with cattle, and there was a large quantity of manure on the bottom of the cars. They were open stock cars, where we had hardly standing room, and they kept us in that way until we got to Andersonville. We got there in the afternoon. It was about the 29th, I think, that we got to Andersonville. They drew us up in line there in front of General Winder’s headquarters, and this notorious Captain Wirz’s. He was the man who presided there and kept in command. He rode along on his gray horse in front of us, and ordered everything taken from us that we had. I had a picture of two of my sisters and a picture of a brother in my pocket. I also had $100 in greenbacks, and my jack-knife, and I had a fork, spoon, and plate. He took everything that I had my money, my pictures, and my knife, so I had nothing at all left.

And then we were counted off into detachments of two hundred and seventy men, and a sergeant put in charge of each detachment. I was a sergeant, and was put in charge of a detachment. We were marched in front of a battery of six guns. These gnus were all loaded with grape and canister; and we were told that if we under took to get away, or made any move whatever to disobey their orders, they would open with grape and canister upon us; and so we were marched in line into the quarters, and as we were marching into the west gate they opened one piece of artillery a shell and threw it over our heads to scare us. Whoa we were marched in there, there were probably from twenty-six thousand to twenty-eight thousand prisoners in there, and the boys were glad to see us.

In the center of the stockade there was a creek running through. It was not really the center, but it was a division line. On the right hand side as we went in wre the old prisoners. On the left the stockade had been enlarged, and we were sent up there. I had nine men out of my company that were captured with me, and we went up there, and found a small place, probably ten feet. We pitched our tent there that is, staked off the ground so there was room enough to lay on. I had an old piece of oil cloth to tie around me, about six inches wide and three feet long, and I went down Broadway, which is the main street in Andersonvillle, and I traded that for a stick of wood, and we took that and split it, and made six pieces of it, and sharpened the ends and stuck them in the ground. That was the way we laid off our camp. We walked around there, and I found some boys I was acquainted with from the Thirtieth and Thirty-first Indiana, and they gave us an old blanket, and we made a shed of that, and that’s all the shelter we had just that old blanket.

We drew rations every day when it didn’t rain, and, of course, I had to draw the rations, and call the roll of these two hundred and seventy men every morning. We didn’t get any rations the first day we were in there not until the next morning. I had to issue them, and I counted off the men in squads of probably twenty, and put a sergeant or corporal over these squads to issue the rations to them. I couldn’t issue the whole two hundred and seventy. I would issue in quantity to them, and then they would take it and issue to their squads. For two hundred and seventy men we had a few sticks of wood to cut up. That is what we got a few sticks of cord wood, four feet long, no matter what the size was. I drew double rations, being sergeant, and I could take and split mine up into splinters like matches and it wouldn’t be a handful, and we had to cook with that for twenty-four hours.

We had nothing to cook with when I went in there, and I went around among the boys and borrowed an old coffee pot; borrowed it every morning to make coffee, which was made of corn-bread. First the corn-bread was issued to us as rations; it was about three inches long, and two inches thick, and two inches wide, and it was ground up cobs and all. The way it was made was, it was mixed with cold water and thrown into a pan and baked till the crust would burn, and then we would take that and make coffee of it. The piece of meat that we got for rations would be about an ounce, sometimes not that much, of bacon. One day we would get this corn-bread and bacon, and the next day we would get beans boiled with beef.

These beans were not clean and had never been run through a fanning mill, but just shoveled up from a barn floor and thrown into a kettle to boil, dirt and all. They were full of worms. A quarter of beef was thrown in with them and boiled. That would be issued and we would get about half a cup army cup full of these beans for a day’s rations; that is, twenty-four hours. We would get a piece of beef about the size of the bacon I spoke of, and the next day we would get half a pint of boiled rice and a little molasses. Four spoons full of molasses was our rations, and rice and molasses was what we got the next day. and then, may be, the next day after that we would get a little raw rice and raw beef. The beef was green when it was brought there from the country in the summer, and by the time it got to us it would smell awfully you could hardly go near it. That constituted our rations.

Then every day we got water from this creek I have spoken of, which run near the center of the stockade. The cook-house stood near the west end of the stockade, and all the slops and everything was thrown into this creek, and then they drove all their mule teams, horses, and cattle, and hogs through that creek; and at the upper end of this creek there was eight or ten feet where there was a dead-line fixed, about eight feet from the main stockade, and we dared not go inside that deadline; if we did we would be shot. We would have to use this water outside that deadline to cook with and drink, and, also, to wash our clothes and ourselves, at the lower end of the creek.

I was down there one day washing and saw a man go under that dead line; there was a rope run across the creek, and a stake each side of the creek, and he reached under that dead-line to get a little water to drink, and just as he Stooped down he was shot in the head by a guard, and dropped dead in the creek, and the guard hallooed and said he would shoot every Yankee son of a b—h that comes under that dead-line that they had orders not to go there. Well, I made up my mind I would undertake it. So when I wanted a little water I reached my hand under and dip it out, and not get my head under. We got along that way about a month, using that water, and then they got a spring there by some means, and then we had pretty good water.

Alter I had been there a month it commenced raining. It was the first of September, and it rained three days steady. No rations were issued during the three days, and my men, the third day, were nearly starved. They came to me and said we must have something to eat or we will go crazy. I told them I couldn’t do anything, but I would go and see Captain Wirz when he came in the morning, and see what he would do. So in the morning I went on Broadway, right by the side of the gate. I knew he came in regularly at such a time in the morning, He came in, and I took off my cap and saluted him very politely. Says I, “Captain, I wish to Speak to you, sir.” He halted, and says he, “What do you want?” Says I, “My men are in a starving condition. They have had nothing to eat for three days, and I wish you would issue me one day’s back rations due my men.” Says he, “I want to see every damned Yankee son of a bitch’s tongue hanging out in this stockade for the want of something to eat.” That is the remark he made to me, and a hundred others standing right there; and then he passed along.

We got no rations until the fourth day about 12 o’clock, and then we got some of these beans and boiled beef. Next day I saw Jeff. Davis, General Bragg, General Hood, (at least I was told they were the ones,) and General Winder, and Captain Wirz, all riding in there. They rode all through inside the dead-line, all around the stockade and saw the condition the men Were in. They were then dying at the rate of one hundred and fifty a day, right along. It was the sickly season. I have got up there in the morning at 4 o’clock—I used to get up early in the morning to get my men out to wash in the creek, and to keep them free of scurvy—and I have got up there at 4 o’clock and walked through the streets and counted fifty men lying on their backs who had died during the night, mainly for the want of something to eat, and almost naked.

I went down one morning within probably a hundred yards of the creek, and there lay a man on his back. He couldn’t speak, ho was near gone. He had one of his fingers cut off at the second joint. There had been a ring on his finger and they couldn’t get it off, and one of the rebel guards cut it off. The ring had the man’s initials and the number of his regiment. Two of my men saw when the rebels cut it off, and told me. One day one of my men came to me and says he, “There is a man over here dying in a tent,” such as we had for shelter, and says he, “He is dying and wants to go to the hospital, and wants you to attend to it.” I had orders every morning of this kind. I would have the rebel sergeant standing by me and he would take the names of the sick and promise to send the surgeon in to see to them. I went to this man who bad sent for me, and I saw he was sick.

He was lying on his back, and was groaning. He had the chronic diarrhea very badly, and was much reduced in flesh for want of something to eat. I says, “Tomorrow we will take you down to the gate and try to get you to the hospital.” Next morning I took a blanket that he had and put him on it, and four men took hold, one on each corner, and we carried him to the corner gate at sick call. There was a sergeant there that had charge of the sick, and I said to him “Here is one of my men will die if he stays here three days longer, I wish you would take him to the hospital.” Says he, “Lay him with the rest.” Probably there were two, hundred lying the same way each side of the gate just left the road so they could pass in with teams.

I laid him down there and staid with him, thinking I might persuade them to take him out, and there was a surgeon came in and examined him, and I said to him: “Can’t you get him in the hospital, he is not fit to stay here?” “Well,” says he, “I have not room for him; and another thing, I have got orders from headquarters not to take a man into the hospital until he is so low he can’t live; and when he gets so low that they expect he will die in two or three days, they are willing to take him in.” Says I: “Can’t you get him some medicine, or give him some Says he: “No; we have none.” Then I took the man back again, and he died.

Another instance: There was a young fellow that belonged to a Pennsylvania regiment got so reduced and starved that he could not stand up, and he laid on his back one week in the hot sun, with nothing over him. He was naked except a shirt, and that nearly torn off of him. I have taken my cup and went to the creek and filled it and brought it to him. I wouldn’t let him drink out of it, because I was afraid of catching the disease, so I took my cup and turned the water in his mouth. I saw another man lay there, and I saw a Catholic priest who used to come in every morning to look at him, and I asked a sergeant if he wouldn’t take him to the hospital, but lie wouldn’t do it. That man lay there until I saw maggots crawling out of his mouth and ears a regular string of maggots running to and fro on his body, till he died, literally eaten up by maggots. Nine of my company died while I was there, for the want of something to eat.

When I was captured I had on a major’s blouse, and the uniform buttons were very nice and bright. It was a blouse I exchanged with our brigade surgeon. I let him have my jacket; and I used to cut the buttons off that blouse and trade them for a little salt with one of the guards. I would fix these buttons on a string and throw them up to the guard after dark, about 9 o’clock in the evening, and he would throw me down a spoonful of salt in exchange for the buttons. That’s the only way we could get salt, if we didn’t have something to buy it. They seldom issued it; and during the time 1 was making this trade with the guard there was a man who was crazy insane for the want of something to eat. He saw a bone lying between the dead-line and the stockade, and he crawled under the dead-line, thinking he could get it and not be seen, and when he got hold of that bone six shots were put in him, and he fell dead.

The next morning we pulled him out and asked permission to take him out. He smelt pretty bad. It was very warm weather. We took him out down to the gate; found out his regiment and company, and put it on a piece of paper and pinned it on his shirt. The way they took these dead men out, every morning we would go round in our quarters for instance, my detachment, being sergeant I would go round, and whoever we found dead, we would take them to the gate and lay them along in a row and put on a piece of paper the number of their regiment and their name, and pin it on their shirts, and they would lay there in a row till about 6 o’clock in the evening, and then they would bring a wagon in there four mules a government wagon, and there would be four negroes to each wagon, and they would take these bodies two men at the feet and two at the head and give them a swing and toss them into the wagon the same as pork, and when they got four or five wagons loaded they would start off to the burying ground, dig a hole and throw them in, and cover them up; and I have seen officers’ wives there; I know they were, because I was told by the sergeant. (There was one or two “white men there who were sergeants.)

I have seen these women standing there and making fun of it, and these men, the biggest part of them, were naked. At the time that Jeff. Davis, Bragg, Hood, and Winder are said to have went through the stockade, we had a major in there, (they didn’t know he was a major, but he was a major in the army; he looked just as rough as any of us; he went in there thinking there might be a possibility of getting the boys out some time;) well, he went up to General Winder, and spoke to him—saluted him, and says he, “General, you see the condition the prisoners are in, don’t you I” Then says he, “Can’t you help them in some way; can’t you do something for them; give them more to eat, and relieve them, and shelter f” Says he, “That’s what we are looking at now—trying to arrange it so as to build some hospitals in here.” And they went off.

In the course of a week after that, they commenced bringing in lumber there, and we put up four hospitals; built same as sheds. Our men went out and brought the lumber in and built them themselves. They got double rations for doing this work; and then these men that were sick were brought in there; had nothing to lay on or to put over them. The weather was getting cold then the nights and they had to lay there in that way. One hospital was about one hundred yards from where I pitched my tent, and sometimes I couldn’t sleep nights for hearing these men groan. The rations got so slim toward the first of October (a little piece of corn-bread, a piece of raw beef, and a little molasses, and boiled rice once a day) that I went round my detachment and got all the molasses I could, boiled it down, and made molasses-candy, and I sent some of my boys out peddling this candy, and they used to get a little money in that way, as some of the prisoners had a little left yet secreted, and with this money we used to buy things of the guard that they wouldn’t issue to us.

After awhile they quit issuing wood, and we had to go down to the creek it was a swampy place and dig three or four feet into the mud to get roots, and we would take and dry them and then bundle them up for fuel. They used to come in there with a paper to get the names of men that would go out and enlist in their army. If they would enlist in their army they would set them free, and they got a few; also tried to get shoemakers, wagon-makers, and mechanics of every description, promising to set them free; they got a few. In regard to tunneling, they used to get out through tunnels, in the night. There was one tunnel there that come out about one hundred yards from the stockade. There was a man in there that belonged to an Indiana regiment, and he exposed us once for a ping of tobacco. One night our men began to get out of a tunnel. It was about 12 o’clock at. night. The rebels knew of it, and a squad of them were in waiting at the mouth of the tunnel. They let about a dozen of our men out, and then set the hounds on them; didn’t shoot them or halt them. The men ran in every direction; climbed trees; and one man was literally torn to pieces.

Next morning we could see these men in the trees not far from the stockade, and we saw the rebels shoot at these men in the trees, and after they were shot and fell on the ground the hounds were set on them. I saw Wirz, on his gray horse, around there at the time. Boxes of clothing were sent to us by our government, but we never got it. We used to see it on the rebel guards. I sent home to Fort Wayne. and a box of provisions was sent to me, which I never got. There were ten pounds of cake, onions, and vegetables, of all descriptions, in the box; coffee and tea, socks, and everything of that description, and they kept it; we never got a thing of it; we knew it came there; we were told so.
HORACE B. FRANKLIN.